Yellow fever is a viral
infection transmitted by mosquitoes that cause fever, jaundice, kidney failure, and
bleeding.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Yellow fever is caused by a small virus that is spread by the bite
of mosquitoes. This disease is common in South America and in sub-Saharan Africa.
Anyone can get yellow fever, but the elderly have a higher risk of
severe
infection. If a person is bitten by an infected
mosquito, symptoms
usually develop 3 to 6 days later.
Yellow fever can be divided into three stages:
Early stage: Headache, muscle aches, fever, loss of
appetite, vomiting, and jaundice are common. After approximately 3 to 4 days,
victims often experience brief remission.
Period of remission: After a few days (3 to 4) fever
and other symptoms go away. Most individuals will recover at this stage,
but others may move onto the third, most dangerous stage (intoxication
stage) within 24 hours.
Period of intoxication: Multi-organ dysfunction
occurs. This includes liver and kidney failure, bleeding disorders/hemorrhage,
brain dysfunction including delirium, seizures, coma, shock, and death.